Say the hour first in digital style: 6:20 = “six twenty”. In past/to style, say the minutes first: 6:20 = “twenty past six”. After 30 minutes, count to the next hour: 6:50 = “ten to seven”.
Ask for the time
Use a direct question with friends. Use could when you want to sound more polite.
Everyday
What time is it?
Polite
Could you tell me what time it is?
Ask about an event
What time does the lesson start?Use what time when you need a clock time.
Useful reply
It starts at half past nine.Use the preposition at before a clock time.
Two ways to say the same time
Digital style is simple and common. Past/to style shows how the clock moves around the hour.
| Written time | Digital style | Past/to style |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 | two o’clock | two o’clock |
| 2:05 | two oh five | five past two |
| 2:15 | two fifteen | quarter past two |
| 2:30 | two thirty | half past two |
| 2:45 | two forty-five | quarter to three |
| 2:55 | two fifty-five | five to three |
Remember: say oh for a zero inside a digital time: 7:05 is “seven oh five”. Do not use o’clock when minutes follow.
Past looks back. To looks ahead.
From :01 to :30, count minutes after the current hour. From :31 to :59, count minutes before the next hour.
Move the clock yourself
Choose any hour and minute. The hands, digital time and two spoken forms change together.
Interactive clock lab
Compare the everyday phrase with the digital reading.
07:45
It’s quarter to eight.
It’s seven forty-five. Add a.m. or p.m. when the time of day is not clear.
a.m., p.m., noon and midnight
The same clock face appears twice each day. Add a time marker when the context is not clear.
a.m.
From midnight until before noon.
7:30 a.m. · seven thirty in the morningp.m.
From noon until before midnight.
7:30 p.m. · seven thirty in the eveningnoon
Exactly 12:00 in the daytime.
The meeting starts at noon.midnight
Exactly 12:00 at night.
The train arrives at midnight.Safer writing: use 12 noon or 12 midnight when 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. may confuse your reader.
12-hour and 24-hour time
Timetables often use 24-hour numbers. Everyday speech usually changes them back to a 12-hour form.
| 24-hour time | Everyday speech | Clear time marker |
|---|---|---|
| 06:10 | six ten / ten past six | six ten a.m. |
| 12:00 | twelve o’clock | noon |
| 14:25 | two twenty-five / twenty-five past two | two twenty-five p.m. |
| 18:45 | six forty-five / quarter to seven | six forty-five p.m. |
| 00:00 | twelve o’clock | midnight |
British and American notes
Both varieties understand digital style. A few conversational forms differ.
British English
Quarter past six and quarter to seven are common. Some speakers shorten half past six to half six.
American English
Six fifteen and six forty-five are very common. You may also hear quarter after six or quarter of seven.
Important: in British English, half six means 6:30. For international English, half past six is clearer.
Five mistakes to avoid
These errors usually come from translating the word order of another language.
It’s quarter to three for 3:45 → It’s quarter to four. To points to the next hour.
It’s seven thirty o’clock. → It’s seven thirty. Use o’clock only on an exact hour.
At the seven. → At seven. The time takes at, but no the.
What time it is? → What time is it? In a direct question, is comes before it.
Could you tell me what time is it? → Could you tell me what time it is? An indirect question uses statement order.
Use this lesson with a class
The page works on a projector, on learner phones and on paper.
15-minute board plan
- Show the four-landmark drawing.
- Ask learners what changes after half past.
- Move the interactive clock together.
- Practise pairs: one learner sets, one learner says.
- Finish with exercises 1–8.
Self-study route
- Read the quick answer first.
- Try five times in the clock lab.
- Say every example aloud.
- Complete all four practice types.
- Repeat only the cards you missed.
Cite or share this page
Virtuous English Academy explains telling the time with two spoken systems, a visual clock lab and 20 marked A1–A2 exercises.
Cite as
Virtuous English Academy. “How to Tell the Time in English: A Visual Guide.” Updated September 19, 2026. https://virtuousenglishacademy.com/how-to-say-in-english/telling-the-time